Many medical issues: How do you manage multiple chronic conditions?

Hi @datta6, I moved your discussion to the Aging Well group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/aging-well/

You are definitely not alone in managing multiple chronic conditions. It becomes an exhausting, full time job. I'm tagging a few fellow members like @lacy2 @parkerjean @gingerw @linh @esthermayo @becsbuddy @ess77 @gcranor @imallears @retirement75 who can share their tips and strategies.

@phoenixpal likes to search for studies and may be able to answer your question about studies following people with multiple conditions.

You may also be interested in these related discussions:

- Multiple conditions: How do you keep track of all your medications? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/where-to-turn-1/

- Where to start with multiple conditions? Symptoms don't add up https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/peculiar-symptoms-that-dont-add-up-bowel-and-ear-pain/

- A discussion for people over 60: Let's focus on what we can do https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-would-like-a-new-discussion-for-people-over-60/

@datta6
Do you know why the EEG was ordered? Are they looking for seizure activity? When was your last transient global episode?
I hope you keep us informed about your EEG results.
Jake.

I can pass on some advice Maria imparted to her students in the very last nursing class she taught (in California) before succumbing to a terminal cancer (of short duration). Although her circumstances are entirely different, I think Maria's insight coming from a medical background, and then quickly gaining first hand patient experience is invaluable. Many diseases have patient geared organizations and Maria highly recommended reading patient information provided by such organizations. For example my companion had Multiple Myeloma and I found patient information provided by the International Myeloma Foundation and other national and local patient Myeloma support geared groups to be point on and very comprehensive. TCOYD gives educational and motivational conferences for diabetics frequently. I attended with my partner and learned I am a Type III diabetic (That is someone who pushes Type I or II diabetes too much!). The take home message from Marie was to read the poignant patient literature from various patient geared support organizations for better understanding. This avoids getting bogged down with other materials that have not been vetted by representative patient support groups, many members of whom have walked in your shoes. Librarians at Patient Education Libraries like at the Mayo Clinic I've found (the hard way) can save time.

All I can say is I know what your going through! I have many medical issues myself! I'm tired of it all! I feel like I'm losing my mine! I have severe ringing in both ears! No Cure for! God bless!🙏🏼

@datta6 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I noticed you joined over a year ago, and have made a couple of posts. There are so many stories from members here, so many experiences, so many ways to look at things.

Similar to you, I deal everyday with multiple issues. Never knowing what might lay in store for me for energy, or mobility, makes it a challenge, and planning my day needs to be very flexible. My doctors are a distance from me, so coordinating appointments to make one run is critical, to bank my resources. It's a challenge we need to look right in the face, and take on!

Tell me how you manage, please? Do you keep written appointment books, journal your issues? Reach out for patient support from websites or patient led groups?
Ginger

@datta6 This must be so difficult to handle. And the appointments, and medications, and new prescriptions, and what you can do and what to avoid, all really add up, don’t they? I sometimes just want to stay in bed all day! But, then i figure what problem has the most effect on my continuing to be at home, taking care of myself.
For instance, my autoimmune disease and the prednisone therapy caused severe osteoporosis. Besides taking my medications, I do a balance class at home and usually wear sneakers when I go out. I don’t want to add a broken hip to the list of problems!
https://www.healthinaging.org/a-z-topic/managing-multiple-health-problems
I found this site that offers tips on how to manage multiple problems. See if anything would work for you.
I also keep a divided notebook in which I list all my doctors. This way I can take notes that I can easily refer to. None of it is easy, but I want to stay engaged in life and not be left behind, so I do my best.
Can you ask if one of the doctor’s offices has a social worker who might help you set up a plan?

I had several issues, including tinnitus, a few yrs ago, until my NEW doctor told me to change my diet! I laughed in his face, knowing there was no way food was doing ALL OF THIS.
I was wrong. Your life will change
when u work towards alkaline diet. Start with no coffee, tea or pop.
Fill the void with something healthy u love. I used smoothies.
After a month c how u feel. I never went back to eating the old way, and love that I’m 57, and now feel great every day.
I also started meditating, and recommend it to all! Keeps your mind calm, helping you think clearly. Start slowly. You can do it.
Good luck. I don’t want anyone to feel the way I used to.

This is good advice. A few months ago, after being a lover of coffee ever since I could remember, I gave it up. Stopped going to my favorite coffee shop. The first week of withdrawal was rough. But by the second week, I felt so good. Energy level went through the roof! No afternoon slump to go and have a cup.

So I like your post. Even change one thing can make a difference. For me it was coffee.

Unfortunately I’ve had ringing in my ears for over 30 yrs. I don’t drink tea or soda and have 1/2 cup of coffee while I relax in the morning after getting up. I have the “normal” aging stuff - arthritis etc but was graced with an autoimmune deficiency a few years ago, burning mouth syndrome after extensive dental work, Grover’s disease with constant itching and meniere’s and they all cause me constant irritation of one sort or another. I then read other posts of conditions much worse and life threatening than mine and that’s when I thank the Lord for my blessings and not my curses. I do make sure I get my checkups and try others suggestions for helping my “stuff” so that’s also important to stay on top of and of course try and stay positive. 💗

Wow, your comment intrigues me. My husband who was part of Desert Storm was assigned to scud missiles and now suffers from tinnitus.

Based on your comment an alkaline diet played a key role in helping you with your tinnitus.

My husband loves coffee and drinks a cup or two a day and an occasional coke.

We have made dietary adjustments and exercise changes that has made a tremendous improvement on our health and wellbeing.

Thanks to you I will be reading more on the alkaline diet and work on weaning my beautiful husband off of coffee. 😁

Thank you so much for sharing!